Huddersfield YMCA 34 West 17

Our hopes of finishing a desperately disappointing season on a high were dashed as a Huddersfield YMCA side needing points to guarantee their own safety cruised to a 34-17 win.

We did have the consolation of finishing the season with a try in the last seconds. However, it was scant consolation for the Brinkburn faithful who will see their side in Durham and Northumberland One next season – our lowest position since league rugby began.

Once again we got off to a poor start with lively scrum half Joah Bradley darting through after just two minutes.

The conversion was missed, but Bradley continued to threaten and when he was prevented from taking a quick penalty opposite number Matt Siddle was sent to the bin. YMCA promptly increasing their lead with a penalty from Stuart Morton.

The centre then cut through the West midfield to send full back Sam Fletcher in under the posts to give his side a 15-0 lead.

Both sides were given a twenty minute breather when the referee went down with a torn calf muscle with Level 7 referee David O'Hare being summoned as replacement.

The break gave us a chance to regroup with Jake Linighan almost getting over from a line-out as the visitors threatened for the first time.

Liam Checksfield just failed to take a sharp pass as we attacked up the wing, but then fell foul of Mr O'Hare who sent him to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on. Huddersfield aqgain taking advantage with a push over try from the penalty .

We did come back with a fine 25 metre break through the centre from Peter Youll, but he paid the price as he was injured in the tackle with Craig Swales coming on to replace him for the rest of the game.

The arrears were reduced when Chris Atkins forced his way over in the corner with Gavin Painter adding a fine conversion.

YMCA'S response was to set up a flowing move which saw Morton evade a last-ditch tackle from Will Hilditch to go in under the posts and give his side a 29-7 half time lead.

The lead was increased with a smart finish in the corner from outside centre Tom Bullock.

We continued to battle and got the reward when a smart kick through from Zac Southern was dabbed down by Checksfield.

Then came that late try from Swales after Painter sent Hilditch on a mazy run through the heart of the home defence.

The full back's lofted pass as he was tackled evaded Checksfield, but the ball bounced kindly for the West replacement with Painter's missed conversion the last act of a season we will want to forget.

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